The banded tower
Black and white, about 35 m high.
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Hook Lighthouse is a black and white banded tower at the tip of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford, marking the eastern entrance to Waterford Harbour. It is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, the second oldest still working after the Tower of Hercules in Spain, and it has stood for over 800 years. The present tower was built by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, to guide ships to a port he founded at New Ross, probably between 1201 and 1240. Tradition says the missionary Dubhán set up a form of beacon here as early as the fifth century. The first keepers of the light were monks from a small monastery nearby. The lighthouse was automated in 1996. The limestone tower is about 35 metres high, standing on dark rocks pounded by the waves. On a guided tour you climb the stair inside and learn about the keepers' lives. Outside are clear tidal pools on the rock shelves, with small white cottages around the base. Whales and dolphins are sometimes seen from here, though it is not guaranteed. The lighthouse is 19.5 km in a straight line south-east of Waterford, reached by road around the harbour or by the Ballyhack ferry. The rocks are slippery and waves can be dangerous near the edge, so keep back in rough seas. Wind is strong, so bring a jacket. The tower stair is narrow, so it will not suit anyone who finds climbing hard.
Black and white, about 35 m high.
The stair and the keepers' stories.
Tidal pools and strong waves.
Hook Head, Hook Peninsula, County Wexford
Yes, it has been automated since 1996 and is run by the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
Yes on the tour, but the stair is narrow, so make sure it suits you.